Karen Ruane

a piped seam

When you saw this two days ago these were separate pieces.....I couldn't help myself, I had to join  them. Piping cord, patterned cloth and hey presto. Joining these has made me anxious to make faster progress with this. It was my intention to create one more surface to take away with me when I go on  holiday and embellish as and when I was relaxing as opposed to doing ''touristy'' holiday stuff. Now I want to make another surface and concentrate on that seam before I go away by joining it to these two and then embellish the surface when I am away. That will mean taking a much larger piece away with me as opposed to one small section. I like that idea. I like the thought of having a more substantial piece of this to handle and even if I do minimal embroidery on the surface it will be a pleasure just to look at it every day as opposed to suffering embroidery, cloth and sewing withdrawals which is what usually happens when I am away from home.

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Yesterday, a video about a swatch. Today, a video about another swatch....it's specifically the edges, the progress of swatches, the plans for taking swatches forward. The first video is new, about the piece in the images today. The second video is from yesterday in case you missed it.

 

We are just about to begin our 4 th week of the 8 week class ''artist books'' online learning.  Normally I like a week or so break in between classes however this year I am going on holiday on June 21 for two weeks, meaning I have a one week break and two weeks holiday before my window for  a new class.  The only problem with that is.....I won't be here to sell the class in the 2 weeks preceding any start date. 

For that reason I have decided the best thing to do is begin my next class in the final week of ''artist books'' which is the week beginning June 5 th. That is only 3 weeks away but it does mean I can motivate, inspire and galvanise the group for two weeks before I trot off on my holiday whilst the group either has a break or continues with embroidery related things for class. 

The class information is not yet fully written. I will have that ready later this week.

 

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a corded strip for an edge

The double cord on silk with lemon bullion loops securing, that has been made for an edge. Trouble is I can't decide which edge. I initially created it for the piece with the folded hankie, now I'm not sure. It doesn't matter, I don't have to attach it yet, I can think, consider and change my mind every five minutes for a few days. I will just create another edge and they can fight it out between them.  

I quite like a puzzle, a little pile of pieces that would all live easily with each other when I decide to make up my mind.

I was so tempted to bead this corded piece, to bling it up with sequins and shiny things but I restrained myself. I don't want to be known as the boring stitcher who has no other skill aside from bling. The bullion loops are enough, I like it, it's understated however be warned.....I may have to channel my inner bling on the next one.

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bullion knots over piping cord

This piece of work hasn't been touched for almost a week. I rectify that today, adding piping cord and embellishing it with bullion knots.  This piece won't form part of my 'sample portfolio'. It is too big and I really don't want to cut it down. Instead it may be used to form part of a larger cloth as I mention in the video.

There haven't been any decisions made yet about the queries from yesterday.....I'm just leaving my mind empty of that, continuing to create little compositions, hoping the light bulb moment will arrive without any help from me.

four days later

You last saw this one here four days ago. Not a lot of work for four days you might think but I've been doing other stuff too....honest....

Four days ago this had a single, solitary bumpy bit. Now it has three rather large bumpy bits and five tiny ones along with stems, French knots and bullion knots. There will be more tiny bumpy bits, white ones, applied to the patterned cloth here before I begin a titivation marathon for the other areas. It's all planned out in my head, all that's needed now is an ironing board, an iron, some scissors, thread, cloth and sewing needles.....

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piping cord, prairie points and bumps

A new pocket taking shape, the early stages. So far it has three oversize prairie points, one bumpy bit and a strip of piping cord. The three fabrics pieced together here compliment each other I think although the very open pattern on some of the Broderie Anglaise might present a challenge further down the line in terms of embellishment. I may add applique on the surface of that area...or perhaps create a few buttons to decorate that section....or Suffolk puffs......who knows.

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gimp....

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I started this one ages ago...and I mean ages. It didn't look like this when you saw it though, it had white cloth at either side of the piping. Yesterday I changed that to new cloth, the lilac and some of the green I already had. There are three prairie points which refuse to lie down but that's O.K.....unruly points, I like a little bit of rebellion. I'm thinking it will become  a pocket like one of these, or these. That's why I pinned it here, to see how that might work....

Once I drag myself away from this PC I am going to spend an hour or so on my little books, make  progress, but before I go don't forget the new class.....not long now and oh yes, I couldn't resist creating a mosaic of today's images, they are so cheery.

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my schoolwork

What's happening in embroidery school? Pockets....and ledgers....puffy things, oh and a lot of gimp which is fast becoming my new obsession. I resisted the urge to use gimp in this embroidered piece, piping cord won the debate. It was hard, I struggled to ignore the gimp but think it was the right decision.

The loops which secure the piping cord are stitched using my new, coloured coton a broder (25) It's quite a fine thread, beautiful to embroider with. I am sure I will be using it  a lot more.

My tatting needles are still in transit. I am anxious for those to arrive as I can't wait to try it. Let's hope I'm not useless at it. This will hopefully be receiving a little more attention this week too. Watch this space.

 

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Making plans with gingham

I have an idea, a plan, can't say too much about it at the moment because basically I haven't got it figured out for myself yet but it's to do with sampling. Sampling cloth, sampling cloth colours, cloth pattern. It includes sampling edges and fastenings too....

I had some fun yesterday afternoon playing with gingham. I might do something similar with silk today. The only silk I have is white. I do however have white silk lace of various kinds, patterned surfaces. That might make a pretty collection, what do you think?

Tomorrow there will probably be more pages for little books. They are developing slowly like I said but I like to reconnect with those for an hour every so often. That way the pile gets bigger without me even noticing.

This morning I added a ''review'' facility to my facebook page. You can rate me out of five. I would really appreciate it if you had a look and left a little feedback maybe??? If you go here you should be able to see what I mean. If you have ever bought anything from me you could rate that, you could rate a class if you have taken one of those, you could also rate my blog.

Finally.....the doodle group on Flickr. I should have been clearer about this group. It isn't anything to do with any of my classes. I only set it up to encourage you all to doodle. I have no other input over there. It is open to everyone. Images do not have to be private like they are in my online classes...public, for anyone, for everyone....

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I do hope you are not bored with this one

Like I said, I really hope you are not sick of seeing this but I am in a very happy place today because of this embroidered scrap. It's different since you last saw it, it has piping cord and coloured bullion knots, the bullion knots which I said were waiting for me in an earlier post. I love it so much I want to make more, a collection perhaps. I remember years ago having to follow a theme for assessment and that would involve several pieces, all linked, each with a different function. For example, a pocket top, a button, a collar, a garment section, all related in some way, similar patterning, same colours, similar cloth.

I am aware that I create mini collections already. The difference is that they mostly take the form of scraps, samples, they lack a reference to anything functional such as buttons, collars etc. What I want to do with this one is expand the idea differently, with reference to those earlier, functional assessment pieces. I mean, it's not like I have anything else to do is it???? That's just my way of getting my feet back on the ground because actually, I already have a million things to do and perhaps shouldn't be thinking about a new collection. BUT...what can you do if inspiration gets hold of you? Find a way to fit it in is the answer.

Going back to the images, the bullions are embroidered using two strands of stranded cotton. That, I find, is much trickier than using a single strand of coton a broder. To me they aren't that good, a little loose perhaps? I doubt they would pass an inspection by Her Majesty's Inspector of Bullion Knots. It's a good thing i haven't invited her round then. I can live with them. I will practice....

Finally, I have to say it.....this piece reminds me of these....